Ben Coulter

This post is from our Preferred Constractor Partner in the Minneapolis, Minnesota area. They are also doing work in Mankato, Rochester and all Metro Suburbs.

Storm Damage Restoration Division of Personal Pride Construction

Minnesota Roofing Contractor | Best Hail Damage, Wind Damage Contractor

www.StormDamagePros.com | Info@StormDamagePros.com

FYI: To all Home Owners having Storm Damge, Wind Damage or Hail Damage Restoration work done---Please read the following post from the Better Business Bureau. Unfortuantely, not every company in the area is a Referral Based company at its core----like Personal Pride Construction has been for the past 10 yrs! The Storm Chasing Companies are a transactional based business, NOT your local Contractor who has a name and reputation on the line with EVERY project.

Storm Damage Repair/Restoration

The following list of tips were created by the BBB, with the input of representatives from the storm damage repair industry, to assist consumers in making wise buying decisions.

1. Be aware that anything you sign is a contract. Read carefully or avoid signing an "estimate" or "authorization" form before you have actually decided to hire a particular contractor. Pay special attention to any details in bold, that are underlined or that you need to initial.

2. Ask your contractor for references. Check with the Better Business Bureau at www.thefirstbbb.org to read a company's reliability report

BBB Definition: report - A summary of activity reflected in a company's BBB file. Includes basic business background, BBB Accreditation information, and BBB complaint activity over the previous three years. Also reports may include any known government actions, advertising issues or other information that results from activity conducted by BBB.

.

3. Ask for proof of liability and workers compensation insurance and well as a license

BBB Definition: license - A permit or accreditation required by the State, Province, County or Municipality where a company is located indicating competence or professional certification that allows the company to provide products or services related to their particular field or industry.

to do work in Minnesota. A contractor should be responsible for obtaining all necessary permits, not you.

4. Consumers may or may not be entitled to a re-inspection if their initial storm damage claim is denied. Factors taken into consideration may include the quality of the original report

BBB Definition: report - A summary of activity reflected in a company's BBB file. Includes basic business background, BBB Accreditation information, and BBB complaint activity over the previous three years. Also reports may include any known government actions, advertising issues or other information that results from activity conducted by BBB.

and the photos from the original inspection. You may want to ask your contractor to assist in asking for a re-inspection.

5. Some contractors specialize in storm damage repair. Ask your contractor to explain their process for working with insurance companies and to describe what you can expect to experience during the process. For example, the claim may need to change depending on whether or not additional damage is found during the restoration process. Also, checks may be issued in stages by your insurance company.

6. When you need storm damage repair, insurance policies vary. Check with your insurance agent about what is or isn't paid for by insurance with regards to repair or replacement.

7. Local or national companies may both do a fine job with your storm damage repair needs. If you choose to do business with someone who is not local, be sure to understand who will be taking care of any service needs that may arise after the completion of the project.

8. Understand the differences between warranties and guarantees. The manufacturer warranties their products and contractors have warranties on service. Contractors may also offer customer service guarantees. Get copies of any/all warranties and guarantees.

9. Refrain from filing an insurance claim that you do not intend to fix. There could be repercussions from your insurance company when you are being compensated to make certain repairs. Keep in mind that if you hold a mortgage on your home, your mortgage company may have a vested interest in you making the repairs and most mandate you to make the repairs.

10. Some companies list bids on their on contract to do service work on your home and some do not (basing their pricing on insurance allowance). Both are acceptable methods of conducting business.

1.15.2009

Thanks for visiting our Minneapolis Minnesota Mortgage Update blog hosted by Active Rain and Uptown Financial Corp. We are located in the heart of Uptown Minneapolis, near Lake Calhoun, Linden Hills and all the great restaurants!

Today is a wild day on the market---The new stimulus package has been revealed for $825B, the second half of the TARP funds are being opposed by Republican senate seats and apparently Bank of America is now requesting another 25B!!! Guess the only constant in this market is the BAD economic news that continues to swirl.

As for facts about where we stand right now for Mortgage Rates and Particular for Minnesota Mortgage Rates and Wisconsin Mortgage Rates.

Minnesota Mortgage Rates for a

30 yr. Fixed: 4.75% | 15 yr. Fixed 4.375%

Bond Market: Courtesy of CNN.com

http://money.cnn.com/markets/bondcenter/?

Holding Steady at 2.21% yield for the 10 yr. Treasury.

This is a great time to Refinance if you have the equity in your home. Should you be looking for more information about Mortgage Rates or Information about how to Build Equity in your home, please visit our website @ www.UptownFinancial.com or www.UptownMinneapolisMortgages.wordpress.com (Daily Updates).

Take Care,

Ben Coulter | Uptown Financial Corp.

Ben@UptownFinancial.com | 612.216.1388

1.14.2009

Reminder to all who are directed to our blog here on Active Rain. We have been utilizing the Wordpress blog because of the LinkedIn.com combination it offers us.

In wanting to streamline our efforts for Minneapolis Minnesota Mortgage Posts---please visit:

http://www.linkedin.com/in/uptownfinancial

http://www.uptownminneapolismortgages.wordpress.com

http://www.UptownFinancial.com

We wish you all a Happy and Prosperous 2009.

Sincerely,

Ben Coulter | Founder/Owner | Uptown Financial Corp.

612-216-1388 Office 612-677-3100 Fax

Ben@UptownFinancial.com | www.UptownFinancial.com

http://UptownMinneapolisMortgages.wordpress.com/

Minneapolis Mortgages, Minnesota Mortgages, St. Paul Mortgages, Edina Mortgages, St. Louis Park Mortgages, Minnetonka Mortgages, Golden Valley Mortgages, Bloomington Mortgages, Refinance, Crosslake Mortgages, Brainerd Mortgages, Mankato Mortgages, Wisconsin Mortgages, Lake Homes Minnesota, Lake Property Wisconsin, Cash Out Refinances, Minnesota Refinance, Minneapolis Refinance, Uptown Minneapolis Mortgages, Wisconsin Refinances

1.5.2009

Greeting from the Active Rain post in Minneapolis Minnesota!.

Based upon the strength of our Linked In portfolio, we have been gearing our Updates via our Wordpress site, www.UptownMinneapolisMortgages.wordpress.com.

We will continue to attempt to keep parties updated via both Blogs....but please note our strong push towards full integration with wordpress for Uptown Minneapolis Mortgage Updates via Uptown Financial Corp.

Sincerely,

Ben Coulter | Uptown Financial Corp.

Ben@UptownFinancial.com | 612.216.1388 | www.UptownFinancial.com

www.UptownMinneapolisMortgages.wordpress.com

Minneapolis Mortgages, Minnesota Mortgages, St. Paul Mortgages, Edina Mortgages, St. Louis Park Mortgages, Minnetonka Mortgages, Golden Valley Mortgages, Bloomington Mortgages, Refinance, Crosslake Mortgages, Brainerd Mortgages, Mankato Mortgages, Wisconsin Mortgages, Lake Homes Minnesota, Lake Property Wisconsin, Cash Out Refinances, Minnesota Refinance, Minneapolis Refinance, Uptown Minneapolis Mortgages, Wisconsin Refinances

Greetings Minneapolis!!

Another day and well---another sunrise?

The credit markets seem to be stabalizing, which is a great thing!! The bond market has been extremely volatile the past week. We have seen rates ranging from 5.5% to 6.75% to 5.625% again. The reason for the bouncing has been varied.

While the Minneapolis Interest Rates were at 5.5%, the first time around, it was because the 10 yr. Treasury Bond was at incredibly low levels with a high bank spread on the back side. As the credit crisis tighten to the its peak, the 10 yr. Treasury rose along with the high bank spread for an interest rate high at 6.75%. This recent Minneapolis Interest Rate downturn is being led by a combination of lower of the yield of the 10 yr. Treasury Bond and an lowering of a bank spread rate.

In summary, where the Minneapolis Mortgage Rates stand currently is a GREAT sign of Bank confidence in the efforts of the Federal Governments on a Global Frontier. Efforts from around the world to help back the Financial Institutions may finally be clicking!!

As the global 'deleveraging' continues, we are moving into a different reality of credit. I look forward to a more responsible movement by the US and its society towards spending, credit and peace. Now if we can just get our Governement to start balancing its checkbook----we will be heading in the right direction!!!

Below is an Article from CNN:

Credit market less jittery

Key lending rates continue to decline as banks warm to government efforts.

http://money.cnn.com/2008/10/21/markets/bondcenter/credit_market/index.htm?postversion=2008102107

Have a great day, enjoy your coffee and Go Timberwolves!!!

Ben Coulter

612-216-1388

Ben@UptownFinancial.com

www.UptownFinancial.com

Credit market less jittery

Key lending rates continue to decline as banks warm to government efforts.

By Ben Rooney, CNNMoney.com staff writer Last Updated: October 21, 2008: 7:58 AM ET

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Bank lending rates continued to ease Tuesday amid talk of a second economic stimulus package in the United States and news of a $14 billion plan to inject liquidity into French banks.

Global economic uncertainty has made banks wary of lending and constrained the flow of capital in the financial system. But a reading of the credit market's vital signs shows slow but steady improvement.

The closely watched overnight Libor rate fell to 1.28% from 1.51% Monday, according to Bloomberg.com. It was the first time the key inter-bank lending rate fell below the Federal Reserve's benchmark interest rate, which stands at 1.5%, suggesting that credit markets are stabilizing.

Libor is a daily average of what 16 different banks charge other banks to lend money in London and is used to calculate adjustable rate mortgages. The higher the rate, the tougher it could be for homeowners to pay those mortgages.

Overnight Libor soared to a high of 6.88% earlier this month after the government's $700 billion bailout bill was signed into law.

Longer-term lending also loosened, though it remains tight. The 3-month Libor fell to 3.83% from 4.06% Monday, according to Bloomberg.com. Last week, the 3-month Libor surged to 4.82% - the highest since mid-December 2007. A month ago, the rate was under 3%.

Meanwhile, a key measure of investors' appetite for risk indicated that confidence is slowly returning in the market.

The "TED spread" declined 36 basis points to 2.61 percentage points from 2.97 points Monday. This spread measures the difference between the 3-month Libor and the 3-month Treasury bill.

A wider spread means the market has less appetite for risky business. The spread reached a record high of 4.65 points a little more than a week ago.

Stimulus redux: Congress could vote on a second stimulus package shortly after November's election as momentum builds for additional economic aid.

A second stimulus package could soften the blow of a potentially long and severe recession. That may give banks more incentive to lend in anticipation of an eventual rebound in the economy.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke told House lawmakers Monday that "consideration of a fiscal package by the Congress at this juncture seems appropriate" given the risk of a "protracted slowdown."

That followed comments over the weekend from the president's chief economic adviser, Ed Lazear, who said "parts of the country" are already in recession.

White Hose officials have signaled that President Bush would be "open" to a second stimulus package, though the administration has expressed doubts about many of the proposals being discussed.

Among the stimulus efforts being considered by congressional Democrats: extend jobless benefits, increase food stamps and investments in infrastructure projects to create jobs in the near term.

Democrats have also called for a moratorium on foreclosures and for making permanent a temporary increase on loan limits for mortgages that may be backed by government sponsored lenders.

Congressional Republicans, meanwhile, contend that tax breaks are more prudent than direct payments to citizens or investment in infrastructure.

Republicans have called for a temporary reduction or elimination of the capital gains tax on stocks and real estate deals. And lower income tax rates for companies that buy distressed assets.

French banks: European markets rallied Tuesday after French finance ministers announced a $14 billion capital injection into six of the country's major banks.

The move is aimed at reestablishing confidence in France's banking system and follows in the footsteps of recent moves by the governments of Great Britain and Germany.

Banks that will receive funds include major European players like BNP Paribas, getting $3.34 billion, and Societe Generale, receiving $2.27 billion, among others.

"In exchange for this measure, they [the banks] must commit to a target of increasing loans to the economy in order to guarantee a degree of financing in line with the needs of individuals, companies, local government and professionals," French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde told the Associated Press.

France's CAC 40 stock index was up 2.3% at midday. The major gauges in Germany and Britain were roughly 1% higher.

Treasurys: U.S. government debt prices were mixed Tuesday with shorter-term debt outperforming longer-term notes.

The benchmark 10-year note fell 2/32 to 101 7/32 and its yield rose to 3.85% from 3.83% on Monday. Bond prices and yields move in opposite directions.

The 30-year long bond slid 8/32 to 103 26/32 lifting its yield to 4.27% from 4.24%.

But the two-year note added roughly 1/32 to 100 18/32 yielding 1.7%.

The yield on the 3-month bill was 1.3% after rising to 1.98% on Monday.

The yield on the 3-month Treasury bill is closely watched gauge of investor confidence. Money-market funds move money in and out of the 3-month bill frequently, depending on the level of risk in the broader market. A higher yield indicates that investors are slightly more optimistic